Are You Afraid

Are You Afraid "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe." Proverbs 29:25 When I think about this scripture, I think about the prophet Jeremiah, who God commanded to go to the people in Israel and demand that they repent of their sins, and return to God. Jeremiah's fear began to get the best of him, and he began to come up with excuses, why he couldn't go. "I am too young." "I do not know how to speak." Even though Jeremiah made excuses why he couldn't go, God didn't give up on him, and encouraged him by saying "I am with you and will rescue you." Jeremiah 1:8 God was with Jeremiah, and he did go and tell the people all that God wanted him to tell them. Fear is something that most people battle each day, from the fear of flying, to fear of heights, to fear of snakes, and many other types of fear. No matter what kind of fear you have in your life today, I want you to know that you can overcome it. God may be asking you to use one of your gifts to reach out in your community, with a coworker, a family member or a classmate, and you are using fear as the reason you are not stepping out. Just as God was with Jeremiah and calmed his fear, He can do the same for you. The Bible teaches us that the "fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and the fear of man is a stumbling block." If you are using fear as an excuse, just remember that God never calls you to do something for Him, that He doesn't empower you to do. Please take the time to get in the presence of God each day, let him speak to you and take away your fear. God's mission, and your purpose on earth is to let others know about the saving grace of Jesus. Open your ears and hearts to God, and let Him fulfill your mission to spread the word. My Daily Devotional Volume Six April 11 Robert William Brock, Jr.